It is just a thought, but is it possible that the name was not 'Toyce' but either 'Toye's" or 'Toyes''? I have sometimes found that messing about with the spelling can produce an answer.
These items were installed after my time (left Christmas 1955) so I find it difficult to envisage precisely what purpose they served and what they looked like.
David

I think I said it years ago, but I'll say it again.
In 1962 or 63, when Seaman was explaining the forthcoming re-organization and the physical manifestations to a meeting of monitors, he outlined the appearance of these things, and said 'At Winchester they call them "toyces". Perhaps we should do the same.' That's certainly how the word came to CH. John Hopgood has suggested above how it may have come to Winchester.

Edit:
I am beginning to doubt whether it is actually used at Winchester, whatever Seaman said (and I heard him say it). Googling Winchester and toyce produces zilch. However, if you google Epsom College and toyce, you will find thishttp://www.educationtrust-oeclub.org/us ... 13_Web.pdf

Search for toyce in that, and you'll find it. That says nothing about its origin, though.

More edit:
Also here: http://epsomoe.dns-systems.net/userfile ... istory.pdf
in which with amazement, I also read this, a housemaster's reminiscence:
'Sleeping quarters were provided in the main building which consisted of two dormitories, one small and one vast with elementary washing facilities. As Housemaster, I lived in two rooms in the main building, sharing a bathroom with the boys.'

The thought of sharing a lav-end with Arthur Rider, or Johnstone, or Pongo makes the mind boggle.

michael scuffil wrote:
Also here: http://epsomoe.dns-systems.net/userfile ... istory.pdf
in which with amazement, I also read this, a housemaster's reminiscence:
'Sleeping quarters were provided in the main building which consisted of two dormitories, one small and one vast with elementary washing facilities. As Housemaster, I lived in two rooms in the main building, sharing a bathroom with the boys.'

The thought of sharing a lav-end with Arthur Rider, or Johnstone, or Pongo makes the mind boggle.

I've said it before, in Hertford we did share with the House Mistress - or rather she shared with us! Having said that, in my whole time in the school I never encountered her going into or coming out of either the bathroom or a lavatory! She must have done so! I can only assume she must have got up before the rising bell at 7. Even the most senior girls were supposed to be in bed with lights out by 10 pm so evenings wouldn't have been so difficult.

Katharine Dobson (Hills) 6.14, 1959 - 1965
Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia!

michael scuffil wrote:I think I said it years ago, but I'll say it again.
In 1962 or 63, when Seaman was explaining the forthcoming re-organization and the physical manifestations to a meeting of monitors, he outlined the appearance of these things, and said 'At Winchester they call them "toyces". Perhaps we should do the same.' That's certainly how the word came to CH. John Hopgood has suggested above how it may have come to Winchester.

Edit:
I am beginning to doubt whether it is actually used at Winchester, whatever Seaman said (and I heard him say it). Googling Winchester and toyce produces zilch. However, if you google Epsom College and toyce, you will find thishttp://www.educationtrust-oeclub.org/us ... 13_Web.pdf

Search for toyce in that, and you'll find it. That says nothing about its origin, though.

More edit:
Also here: http://epsomoe.dns-systems.net/userfile ... istory.pdf
in which with amazement, I also read this, a housemaster's reminiscence:
'Sleeping quarters were provided in the main building which consisted of two dormitories, one small and one vast with elementary washing facilities. As Housemaster, I lived in two rooms in the main building, sharing a bathroom with the boys.'
The thought of sharing a lav-end with Arthur Rider, or Johnstone, or Pongo makes the mind boggle.

I'm not absolutely sure that 'Boggle' is quite the right word, Michael !!

Foureyes wrote:I find it difficult to envisage precisely what purpose they served and what they looked like.
David

It's been many years since I've seen one but as I said earlier in this thread, a toyce was essentially a large, legless desk that hinged off the dayroom's wall.
As you progressed through a senior house, you were given your own toyce. It was a big stepping stone between sitting at the dayroom table to do your prep and having your own study.
Normally set at right angles from the wall, the toyce had cupboards and shelves for your text books, writing implements and so on.
For certain occasions - house plays, group activities, cleaning of the dayroom, etc - the toyces could be swung back on to the wall. This gave considerably more floor space in the dayroom.
The normal thing during the 70s was to have a travel rug thrown over a piece of string to partition off the toyce from the rest of the dayroom. When you were sitting down at the toyce, with a blanket wall on one side of you, suddenly you were in your own world for the first time at CH.
And, as I said, some people found they could fit a record player into their toyce area. With headphones, it worked a treat, and is certainly how I remember listening to some great music - Captain Beefheart, Brian Auger, Hawkwind, Curved Air and more.

I saw Brian Augur's band opening for the Rolling Stones in a package at the London Palladium in 1965. They were then either Steam Packet or Shotgun Express, I can't remember which, and the other featured singers apart from Julie were Rod Stewart (who sang "Can I Get A Witness") and Long John Baldry (who sang "I've Got My Mojo Working). I saw, rather than heard, the Stones because the girls started screaming when they came on and never let up. Others on the package were the Moody Blues, who'd just had a hit with "Go Now", the Merseybeats, and US R&B singer Sugar Pie Desanto.

rockfreak wrote:I saw Brian Augur's band opening for the Rolling Stones in a package at the London Palladium in 1965. They were then either Steam Packet or Shotgun Express, I can't remember which, and the other featured singers apart from Julie were Rod Stewart (who sang "Can I Get A Witness") and Long John Baldry (who sang "I've Got My Mojo Working). I saw, rather than heard, the Stones because the girls started screaming when they came on and never let up. Others on the package were the Moody Blues, who'd just had a hit with "Go Now", the Merseybeats, and US R&B singer Sugar Pie Desanto.